Does the news that Fernando Alonso will not race in F1 next year mean that the nine remaining GPs on the 2018 schedule will be his last? It’s likely that not even he knows for sure. But his career to date has been one for the ages.
First F1 test: Minardi, Jerez 1999
Alonso's 1999 Euro-Open Movistar championship triumph was swiftly followed by the then-18-year-old's first introduction to F1…
Alonso's 1999 Euro-Open Movistar championship triumph was swiftly followed by the then-18-year-old's first introduction to F1 machinery: a Minardi M101 at Jerez.
First F1 test: Minardi, Jerez 1999
First F1 test: Minardi, Jerez 1999
Benetton test driver, 2000
In 2000, Alonso dovetailed an F3000 campaign with test driver duties for Benetton. He also spent…
In 2000, Alonso dovetailed an F3000 campaign with test driver duties for Benetton. He also spent a day in a Minardi M02 at Fiorano.
F1 debut, 2001
Alonso became the third-youngest F1 driver ever when he made his debut with Minardi at the…
Alonso became the third-youngest F1 driver ever when he made his debut with Minardi at the 2001 Australian GP. The PS01 was a problematic car, but he out-qualified teammate Tarso Marques by 2.6s.
Benetton test driver, 2002
Unable to make space for Alonso in Renault's 2002 driver line-up, manager Flavio Briatore assigned him…
Unable to make space for Alonso in Renault's 2002 driver line-up, manager Flavio Briatore assigned him to a full-time test role for the year. Making the most of an era before testing restrictions, he clocked up 39 days in the car for a total of 2099 laps.
Renault, 2003
Alonso returned to the race grid in 2003 as replacement for Jenson Button at Renault.
First win, Hungary 2003
Alonso's maiden win in Hungary, 2003 was the highlight of a season that included three other…
Alonso's maiden win in Hungary, 2003 was the highlight of a season that included three other podiums.
Renault, 2004
A winless 2004 nevertheless delivered four podiums, and also cemented Alonso's status within the team: teammate…
A winless 2004 nevertheless delivered four podiums, and also cemented Alonso's status within the team: teammate Jarno Trulli was dropped for Jacques Villeneuve late in the year.
Bad photoshoot ideas, 2004
Presumably once you're a world champion you can say no to stuff like this, but for…
Presumably once you're a world champion you can say no to stuff like this, but for Alonso, pictured in Miami in 2004, that kind of leverage was still a year away.
World champion, 2005
A dominant season in the Renault R25 ended with six poles, seven wins - and the…
A dominant season in the Renault R25 ended with six poles, seven wins - and the world championship. At 24, he was the youngest driver to have won the title.
Back to back, 2006
Alonso held the upper hand for much of his season-long championship battle with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher,…
Alonso held the upper hand for much of his season-long championship battle with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, and ultimately sealed his second crown by 13 points. Renault also won the constructors' championship.
McLaren, 2007
Alonso moved to McLaren alongside rookie Lewis Hamilton for 2007, and won his second race with…
Alonso moved to McLaren alongside rookie Lewis Hamilton for 2007, and won his second race with his new team in Malaysia. Another three wins would follow – as would some drama...
The Hungary controversy, 2007
Qualifying gamesmanship between Alonso and teammate Hamilton in Hungary snowballed into a controversy that ultimately led…
Qualifying gamesmanship between Alonso and teammate Hamilton in Hungary snowballed into a controversy that ultimately led to Alonso being allowed to leave McLaren at the end of the year, with 12 months still on his contract. More significantly, it was the catalyst for McLaren becoming embroiled in the Spygate saga that led to it being disqualified from the constructors' championship and fined $100 million.
Return to Renault, 2008
Alonso was linked to several teams for 2008 before opting to return to Renault. The R28…
Alonso was linked to several teams for 2008 before opting to return to Renault. The R28 wasn't the world-beater he'd had during his last spell with the teams, but he still managed to win two races.
Renault, 2009
Renault continued to slide towards the midfield with its R29, and that lack of pace, coupled…
Renault continued to slide towards the midfield with its R29, and that lack of pace, coupled with some frustrating retirements, stretched Alonso's patience - not that it mattered, since he'd reportedly already signed for Ferrari for 2010. The season yielded just one podium.
Ferrari, 2010
A win on his debut with the Scuderia in Bahrain was the first of five victories…
A win on his debut with the Scuderia in Bahrain was the first of five victories during 2010, but Alonso was narrowly beaten to the title by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.
Ferrari, 2011
Competition from Red Bull and McLaren made for a tight battle up the front most weekends,…
Competition from Red Bull and McLaren made for a tight battle up the front most weekends, and Alonso managed one victory for the season. He was bumped from third in the drivers' standings by Mark Webber at the season finale.
Ferrari, 2012
After a low-key off-season, Ferrari quickly reemerged as a threat in 2012. Three wins was enough…
After a low-key off-season, Ferrari quickly reemerged as a threat in 2012. Three wins was enough to set up a title showdown with Vettel – which Alonso lost by just three points.
Final win? Ferrari, 2013
The 2013 Spanish GP was Alonso's second win of the season, 32nd win of his career…
The 2013 Spanish GP was Alonso's second win of the season, 32nd win of his career – and five years later, it still represents his most recent visit to the top step of an F1 podium...
Ferrari, 2014
Second in Hungary 2014 after a late pass by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo represents Alonso's most…
Second in Hungary 2014 after a late pass by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo represents Alonso's most recent podium. And with Ferrari's competitiveness continuing to slide, the clock was also ticking on his time with the Scuderia.
Return to McLaren, 2015
Alonso and Ferrari split at the end of 2014, despite still having time to run on…
Alonso and Ferrari split at the end of 2014, despite still having time to run on their contract, and the Spaniard was reunited with McLaren for 2015. Saddled with the unwieldy MP4-30, he finished in the points only twice.
McLaren, 2016
Another season spent chasing points rather than podiums, but Alonso's haul of two fifths, a sixth…
Another season spent chasing points rather than podiums, but Alonso's haul of two fifths, a sixth and six other lower point-scoring finishes represented an MP4-31 being stretched to its recalcitrant limits.
McLaren, 2017
In 2017, Alonso spent May having fun at Indy, and the rest of the year trying…
In 2017, Alonso spent May having fun at Indy, and the rest of the year trying to squeeze something out of the McLaren MCL32. He finished the season 10th in the standings.
McLaren, 2018
This year's McLaren has allowed Alonso to figure regularly in the lower point-scoring positions, with a…
This year's McLaren has allowed Alonso to figure regularly in the lower point-scoring positions, with a current best of fifth in Australia. An improvement - but for a 37-year-old looking to run up front again, not enough.
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